Cunard Unveils a Floating Palace

Cunard has announced the long-awaited details of its second biggest liner ever built, Queen Victoria, which will boast glass-walled lifts overlooking the sea, a full-scale West End theatre complete with private viewing boxes, a museum, two-storey library and grand ballrooms.

After her completion in Italy and her launch in December 2007, the 90,000-ton Queen Victoria will become the third Queen for Cunard – a first in the line’s 167-year history – joining her big sister Queen Mary 2 and famous sibling Queen Elizabeth 2.

Unveiling details of the 1968-passenger ship, Cunard said Queen Victoria would pay homage to the golden age of liners, with elegant public rooms, luxurious décor, exclusive artworks, deluxe cabins – 86 per cent offering ocean views – fine dining, white-glove service and a formal British atmosphere designed to evoke a more ‘civilised era of travel’.

Cunard is now taking advance registrations for Queen Victoria’s first two cruises in December 2007, with bookings opening in April. Her maiden voyage departs Southampton on December 11 for a 10-night Christmas markets tour of Northern Europe, with her second cruise spending Christmas and New Year in the sunshine of the Canary Islands, Morocco and ports along the Iberian peninsula. Fares for a 10-night cruise start from AU$2619 per person, twin share.

Other Queen Victoria cruises will go on sale in July. For more information call Cunard on 1300 725 417 or visit www.cunardline.com.au

Named after the longest serving monarch in British history, who reigned when Cunard was formed in 1839, Queen Victoria is certain to be as popular with Australians as QM2 and QE2, which will both visit Sydney together on February 20, 2007.

“Cunard has the unique distinction of having the only true liners in the industry and Queen Victoria will offer our guests the classic Cunard luxury and experience they have come to expect while providing the most up-to-date amenities and facilities, along with a few impressive innovations,” Cunard Line Australian Managing Director Gavin Smith said.

Sporting Cunard’s distinctive black and red livery, Queen Victoria’s innovations include:

· a plush 800-seat West-End-style Royal Court Theatre with a cruising first – private boxes on the upper level
· a huge two-storey wood-panelled library with 6000 books and a spiral staircase
· a ‘Cunardia’ museum displaying historical nautical memorabilia with an adjacent Cunard shop
· dramatic staircases in the three-storey Grand Lobby and two-storey Britannia Restaurant
· a palatial 92-square-metre ballroom for high teas and black tie balls
· a two-deck Royal Shopping Arcade offering designer-name shops spread over 371 square-metres
· an exclusive outdoor restaurant and retreat for Queens Grill passengers staying in the top suites
· the grand Winter Garden conservatory offering a retractable roof over the pool
· a traditional London pub
· a Todd English restaurant serving innovative Mediterranean cuisine, which proved so popular with passengers on QM2
· a 270-degree lounge, Hemispheres, providing a daytime venue for classes and lecturers which transforms into a nightclub each evening

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